• 22 May 2012

One morning last week, I was puzting around my kitchen assembling lunches and doing dishes after breakfast. The sun shone in through the one window in my kitchen (always an exciting moment here in Seattle!) and as I was enjoying the moment, my thoughts turned to my children. One was belting out Coldplay while trying to play the piano, another was running around with his latest Lego creation, and another was doing her best to avoid brushing her teeth :) My baby, Gray, was simply trying to keep up with his siblings as he darted from room to room doing his darnedest to make his presence known :).

I closed my eyes for several seconds in attempt to take it all in...

I thought about these short, fleeting, tender moments when everything feels just right. I wish I could say I felt this way all the time--or even often--but I don't. I'm not sure if that's normal or not, but I do know that for me, savoring the brief experience is of the utmost importance to my overall sense of balance and one of my greatest pleasures in life. So today, and in the future, try a little more savoring and enjoying; when you too feel the stars aligning, even for a few minutes. Look for the silver linings. Relish in the good kind of chaos. And do your best to memorize every nuance because someday, when life feels more complicated, you'll give anything to relive these sweet moments over and over.

It is so normal to forget your blessings when you get caught up in daily life/routines, especially with 4 children, I am speaking from experience :-) As you, I am working on cherishing those little moments, it is an everyday process, but it helps and feels great. Greetings from Amsterdam.

I couldn't agree more. Just last night I stayed up to blog about a night I recently had with Tate, that I never wanted to forget. I'm with you, I wish it happened more often for me (that I notice actually). Thanks for writing it, and so beautifully!

this post is a very good reminder on being present in our lives. i have been working on this/through this myself. life seems to jump up and take over and then all of a sudden the day is done and you missed the whole thing.

Beautifully put, Stephanie. I struggle with this too. I KNOW how much better I feel when I do this, yet somehow it eludes me for much of the day. One thing I have been doing is savoring the little moments in my mind at night before I go to sleep.....just the little things (not the BEST or most exciting) but just the little things my kids did that day that makes them ....them. :)

Ah, my biggest life lesson in the past two years. While we've dealt with some big challenges, I have really treasured those brief moments and hours where we are experiencing bliss, peace and calm. I have learned that those moments are life's happiness that is so talked about and sought. It's not a destination, it's brief moments to savor that carry you through life, especially in it's harder times. Thank you for the reminder & inspiration to keep savoring.

beautiful photo, steph!yes i agree whole-heartedly with your sentiment! SO much of our life is made up of the tedious and day-to-day (dishes, lego, piano, etc) that if we DON'T pause to soak it up, then life is pretty much passing us by.it's hard to 'enjoy' the chaos, though i'm trying :).xo

oh goodness, this is something I have been working very hard on lately and is even one of the reasons I have been loving blogging. it gives me a "reason" to take a photo of a dinner that went especially well or the newly hung curtains. the simple, sweet, little things make all the difference in the world.

Love this, Stephanie. Your children are beautiful! One of my favorite qutoes, "The sacred moments, the moments of miracle are often the everyday moments." (Frederick Buechner)I appreciate the everyday moments the most, too. Have you read the books by Katrina Kenison, Mitten Strings for God and The Gift of an Ordinary Day? Or My Monastery is a Minivan: Where the Daily is Divine and the Routine Becomes Prayer, by Denise Roy. :)